The first poppy to bloom each summer always brings a smile to my face, because it means we’ve achieved another year with our beautiful old cat, Poppy. I featured her on here a couple of weeks ago with a sweet video clip. This year’s recent heavy rain has battered the plant’s leaves a little flat, but it has still produced this stunning flower pictured above. There are lots of buds, so hopefully there will be plenty more to come.

The rain also flattened my peonies, which are laden with buds too, but thanks to my lovely gardener Dennis (who visits for a couple of hours once a fortnight to help me keep the garden in check), they are now supported by an old piece of trellis he found.

As our Today’s Special Value today is a Plants2Gardens plant and planter set (I am sorely tempted by the Slate Blue), I thought I would share some photos of my garden. I mentioned on-air yesterday that we have a climbing rose in a similar shade to the pink Peony Today’s Special Value and, as you can see, I wasn’t fibbing.

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These pictures were all taken this morning at around 8.30 and it was already quite warm… a promise of things to come over the next few days hopefully, particularly as it is a Bank Holiday weekend. I am working, but I hope you have the chance to enjoy it.

Well, the good news is that my tummy has settled down a bit, after starting the prebiotic/probiotics Chloe Everton suggested. The trouble is, now I have come down with a horrible cold and cough!

It started on Sunday with a dripping nose and tickly cough, but the cough has now moved on to my chest and makes me sound quite husky. I’m just hoping my voice will hold out for all of my upcoming QVC shifts until my holiday dates start next weekend.

In the end, my football team finished 14th in the Premiership, which is not too bad considering we were favourites for relegation for a while. Now ‘Big Sam’ has resigned we are, once again, managerless – the joys of being a Crystal Palace supporter!

At least our star player Wifried Zaha, after whom our cat Wilfie was named, has just signed a new five-year deal. Let’s hope we can actually hang on to him under the terms of his contract when the big clubs come in with their money offers for him.

We have a fabulous weekend ahead on QVC if you haven’t got much on. There’s an Alpha-H Today’s Special Value tomorrow and a beautiful cold shoulder MarlaWynne balloon dress on Sunday. I wore it on-air yesterday and had loads of questions about it and compliments.

Before that though, I have Betty & Co as the featured brand on today’s Fashion on Friday. Do also remember to check out the Look of the Week on the QVC Style channel each weekday live at 4pm – here’s a cheeky sneak peek at next week’s.

If you have time on your hands and fancy reading a book or two, check out my author website www.juliarobertsauthor.com – if you sign up for my newsletter you will get access to a free short story called ‘The Shadow of Her Smile’. Also, for those of you who have been asking, the ‘Alice in Theatreland’ paperback is out on the 27th June and should be available to pre-order soon.

Julia, Just finished Alice in Theatreland which I downloaded on my kindle and absolutely loved this one which kept me enthralled from beginning to end and you gave us a most vivid portrayal of “life behind the scenes” in theatre. Wonderful storyline even although I was unsure if this was my type of book but you proved me wrong.
Have also read your Life’s a Beach etc. which made for light and enjoyable reading. Just wish I had the gift of writing although I did try and put pen to paper as my grandchildren wanted to find out what my life was like growing up and also those of my family before me. Still ongoing after a few years – hopefully will finish it one day to give an insight of where my roots were!!! Something tangible to leave!!!
Now, I await your next book – QVC sure have talented presenters.x

Hi Phyllis,
I’m so pleased you enjoyed Alice in Theatreland – a few people have said they weren’t sure if they would like it as much as the Liberty Sands trilogy but have been pleasantly surprised.
You must finish writing your memoirs for your grandchildren – we live in such a different world these days it would be a shame for your experiences to be lost forever.
Hoping to have the next book out in October.
Love
Julia x

Julia , when i said roll on August i meant (start of Footie Season sort off ) lol . But we are both going to see friends that bought in Denia at the end of June. Pretty flowers love bright colours in the garden. We have just bought a Tree Fern, i noticed in another photo you have one, i think they like partial shade don’t they… Do you cover yours in the winter time i know some people do… ? Hopefully plant it at the weekend.
I’m sure i heard you mention a holiday enjoy if you are going .

Hi Kathy
We are off to Javea this month during my time off from QVC.
Re the tree fern – we just cut up a couple of the fronds & sprinkle them over the centre to over winter then cut away the dead ones when the new start to unfurl. Mind you it is in a sheltered spot. Good luck with it, I love ours after initially not being too keen
Love
Julia x